A woman who was found dead in her home has been remembered for having the ‘biggest heart’ – as her family reveal she and the man facing a slew of assault charges over her death were not in a relationship together.
Emma Bates, 49, was found dead inside her Cobram home, close to the NSW border in Victoria’s far north, about 2.15pm on Tuesday, having suffered injuries to her upper-body and face.
John Torney, 39, who lived next door, was charged over Ms Bates’ death on Wednesday night with intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, common assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault.
Police said the pair were known to one another and it had been widely reported they were in a relationship.
But Ms Bates’ family told Daily Mail that Ms Bates and Torney had only known each other for weeks, not months, and revealed she ‘hated’ him.
Emma Bates (pictured), 49, was found dead inside her Cobram home, close to the NSW border in Victoria’s far north, about 2.15pm on Tuesday, having suffered injuries to her upper-body and face
John Torney (pictured), 39, who lived two doors down, was charged over Ms Bates’ death on Wednesday night with intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, common law assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault
‘Emma was aware of what type of person John was. She hated him,’ Ms Bates’ sister, Rachel, said.
‘Somehow we don’t know how he managed to get in her life.
‘Emma lived to help the disadvantaged and misunderstood. She had the biggest heart of anyone I know. This connection with John was weeks long. Not months or years.’
Rachel paid tribute to her sister, saying she did not let her lifelong health challenges get in the way of helping others in the Cobram community.
‘She was a type one diabetic, this caused many health complications, she was frequently hospitalised. She used her mobility scooter to travel around,’ Rachel said.
‘Despite all her health challenges, she had the biggest heart of anyone we know. She was always helping someone.
‘Dropping in food for an elderly neighbour. Giving lifts to people who needed it. The list goes on.’
Ms Bates’ family had been in Melbourne supporting her father who was receiving medical treatment.
Ms Bates’ (pictured) sister Rachel said she had the ‘biggest heart of anyone we know’
Ms Bates was discovered deceased inside her home (pictured) on Tuesday afternoon
‘When he returned to Cobram it was to a crime scene at his daughter’s house. We initially thought she’d had a medical event,’ Rachel said.
‘When the police informed us she was (allegedly) assaulted and left to die it has shattered our world. A beautiful caring woman’s life just gone. Nothing makes sense.’
Rachel, who did not want to provide her surname to protect her parents’ privacy, described her sister in loving terms as the ‘crazy cat lady aunt’.
‘She had her rescues that she treated like her babies. Her home decor was all cat inspired,’ she said.
‘Emma wasn’t blessed with children but was a proud aunty to her 17 nieces and nephews.
‘They were her pride and joy and she would spend hours talking about them to everyone. She had many of their faces tattooed to her leg so she could carry them with her always.
‘It’s tragic that her big heart has led her to a friendship with a man who (allegedly) wished her harm. No one deserves that.’
Ms Bates is the 26th woman to be killed in this year as the nation grapples with an epidemic of violence against women and girls.
Torney faced an out of sessions court hearing on Thursday evening.
He will appear before Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
A team of detectives and forensic officers were seen scouring Ms Bates’ home for evidence and speaking to neighbours on Wednesday as part of the investigation.
A wheelchair and cat scratching post could be seen sitting unattended in Ms Bates driveway as forensic officers scoured the property on Wednesday afternoon
As police trailed in and out of the front door, a wheelchair, a cat scratching post tower, and an exercise bike could be seen sitting abandoned in Ms Bates’ undercover car park.
Friend Kylie Mizzi, whose parents lived next door to Ms Bates for many years, told Daily Mail she was a ‘beautiful soul’.
‘She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart, was warm and loving,’ she said.
‘I’m in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul.’